Brian Ó hEadhra

Catriona Patience is a multimedia artist from the west of Ireland, who now lives and works in Scotland. Her seasonal art celebrates her encounters with the outside world through photography, textiles and paint. To celebrate Colmcille 1500 Catriona has created three original artworks depicting birds from the genus Columba and using film footage shot on Inchcolm; Iona of the East. Here is her final work presented to CHARTS and Bòrd na Gàidhlig in December 2020.

by Phil Baarda and Derek Robertson

As we know, St Columba, Colmcille, came to Scotland from overseas and has become an iconic part of our culture and history.  So too have many familiar and not-so-familiar plant and animals.  In more recent times, these wildlife colonisers – migrating northwards as our climate changes, or otherwise helped here by human hands – are so new to Scotland they don’t have a Gaelic name, which is something this exciting project is beginning to address.

From the Bird’s Mouth, Bho Bheul an Eòin, is naming the new!  Through a process of research and consultation, with advice from scientists, researchers and Gaelic writers, the project will give Gaelic names these new Scots, and tell the story of their colonisation through poetry and prose, through a high-quality art book with an interactive website – and, when possible, a travelling exhibition.

This exciting partnership project features award-winning and highly-acclaimed wildlife artist Derek Robertson, with support from NatureScot (formally Scottish Natural Heritage) and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

There’s an additional resonance with Colmcille.  The symbol of Columba is the dove – species of the genus Columbidae.  The Collared Dove – the Calman-coilearach – first nested in Scotland in 1957 after rapidly expanding from its place of origin in the Middle East and Asia.  Despite the sandy camouflage colours of its plumage, the Calman-coilearach has now reached the furthermost island refuges of the saints who came to preach the words of a religion born in the deserts of the East.

You will be able to find the From the Bird’s Mouth, Bho Bheul an Eòin, webpages from https://www.derekrobertson.com/ which also shows Derek’s other remarkable wildlife artwork.

Manuscript maker, Thomas Keyes, is seeking to collaborate with a Gaelic writer and apply for a Colmcille 1500 Legacy Award. More information here.

Duais Dìleab Chaluim Chille / The Colmcille Legacy Award, is a small national award scheme created in partnership by Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the Culture, Heritage and Arts Assembly, Argyll and Isles (CHARTS) to commemorate the life and cultural legacy of Colmcille throughout the Year of Colmcille, 1500.

The project offers monthly arts awards and online exhibition to profile and support Gaelic artists work, aligned to themes of Colmcille. For information about Year of Colmcille, see: https://colmcille.net/ This is a digital project to meet social distancing challenges presented by the impacts of Covid-19 at the time of the launch of Colmcille 1500. 

Awards are designed to support work which celebrates, remembers and interprets the role of Colmcille in the past and in contemporary society. Aiming to support a variety of work across arts media, artists are invited to submit proposals to support the development of new work, or highlight existing work, linked to the life and legacy of Colmcille. 

This project will celebrate Gaelic arts and culture using a range of arts media and themes related to Colmcille, which can be shown to advantage in an electronic media, online, context. 

Applicants should note that two award types are available: 

• Up to 18 arts awards will be made to artists living in Scotland 
• A single heritage award will be made to artist/s living in Argyll and Bute region only 

We aim to offer at least one award at each selection stage to a young person, aged between 16-26 years.

Application deadlines  
Heritage Award – July 31st 2020 

Arts Awards – This is a rolling programme, running until 2021. You may apply at any time. Up to 18 awards will be made in total.

Full details on the CHARTS website here.

Here is artist Catriona Patience who received funding for a new art project from the Colmcille Legacy Award by CHARTS (funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig).

Fàilte oirbh don chiad Cèilidh nan Gàidheal air loidhne far an coinnich luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig is na Gaeilge air Zoom airson beagan ceòl, cainnt is craic fhaighinn còmhla ann an cànain nan Gàidheal.

09/09/20. 8f. Cleachd an ceangal seo airson faighinn a-steach ann. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7717224360.

Ma tha sibh dìreach airson coimhead, rach dhan duilleag www.facebook.com/colmcille1500

Fáilte go dtí an chéad Céilí na nGael ar líne ina mbuailfidh cainteoirí Gàidhlig agus Gaeilge le chéile ar Zoom le haghaidh roinnt ceoil, cainte agus craic sna teangacha Gaelacha.

09/09/20. 8pm. Bain úsáid an nasc seo chun rochtain a fháil air https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7717224360.

Mura dteastaíonn uait ach féachaint, téigh chuig an suíomh

www.facebook.com/colmcille1500

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